Lift-and-Slide or Tilt-and-Slide Door? HST and PSK Compared

Large glass areas to the terrace or garden bring light into the house and connect the living space with the outdoors. If you don’t want a classic French door with a side-hung sash, you will usually choose between two sliding systems: the lift-and-slide door (HST) and the tilt-and-slide door (PSK). Both save space because the sash does not swing into the room – but technically they differ considerably.

How a lift-and-slide door (HST) works

With a lift-and-slide door, turning the handle lifts the sash by a few millimetres. It comes away from the seals and glides easily to the side on rollers – in front of the fixed element. When closing, the sash lowers again and is pressed firmly into the seal. Because the weight rests on the rollers, even very large and heavy sashes can be moved with little effort.

• Depending on the system, element widths of around 6 metres and sash weights of up to about 400 kg are possible.
• The threshold can be flat and almost level with the floor.
• When closed, the HST is very tight – good for thermal and sound insulation.

How a tilt-and-slide door (PSK) works

The PSK door works like a large tilting window with a sliding function. In the first handle position, the sash tilts for ventilation. In the second, it moves out parallel to the frame and can then be slid in front of the fixed pane. The system is simpler in design and therefore cheaper, but only allows smaller and lighter sashes.

• Sash weights of up to about 200 kg, total widths usually up to around 4 metres.
• The tilt position allows convenient ventilation, just like a window.
• At the bottom there is a normal frame – the PSK is usually not threshold-free.

Which sliding door suits you?

The lift-and-slide door is the first choice for large glazed fronts, new builds with a level transition to the terrace and anyone who values comfort and a flat threshold. The tilt-and-slide door is a good fit for smaller openings and renovations where budget matters and tilting for ventilation is wanted.

What to look out for when buying

• Security: several locking points and a lockable handle make levering harder. Our sliding doors come with four security locking points as standard. Read more in Burglar-resistant windows: RC2.
• Insulation: what counts is the Uw value of the entire element. We explain the values in our guide The window U-value explained.
• Material: sliding doors are available in PVC and aluminium. Aluminium allows particularly slim sightlines and very large formats.
• Installation: large elements are heavy. Load-bearing fixing and a tightly sealed threshold are crucial for a long service life.
• Accessories: plan sun protection and insect screens at the same time – for example a sliding insect screen or an external venetian blind.

You will find examples of completed projects in our references.